Heddle control mechanism



Dec. 10, 1957 w. G. Bl-:JEUHR l 2,815,772

HEDDLE CONTROL MEGHANISM Filed Aug. 29, 1955 Y 5 sheets-sheet 1 I f-/lv De. 10, 1957 w. G. B'EJl-:ul-IR HEDDLE CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Aug. 29, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 'INVENTCR ATTORNY Dec. 10, 1,957 w. G. lsnazn-:ul-wz 2,815,772

HEDDLE CONTROL MEcHANIsM Filed-Aug. 29, 1955 Dec. l0, 19547 w. G. BEJEUHR 2,815,772

HEDDLE CONTROL MECHANISM United States Patent O HEDDLE CONTROL MECHANISM Walter G. Beieuhr, Mount Vernon, N. Y., assignor to Mohasco industries, Inc., a corporation of New York Application August 29, 1955, Serial No. 531,012 21 claims. (Cl. 139-55) The present invention relates to heddle frame drive and control mechanisms for looms, especially of the type for weaving rugs and carpets.

ln weaving operations, the warps are guided through heddles in frames which are moved up and down in predetermined order and into predetermined positions for shedding, in accordance with the pattern of the weave desired. If the heddle frames are driven and controlled by respective driving mechanisms, such as cams, to impart the necessary cyclic motions thereto, then the number of heddle frames which can be driven and controlled becomes limited by the amount of space available for these mechanisms. Moreover, with such driving and control mechanisms, it is necessary to maintain a large variety of these mechanisms, to permit changes from one weave pattern to another, and such changes require considerable work and time.

Also, the heddle frames are heavy, weighing in some cases up to 150 pounds per frame, so that considerable force is required to move them quickly through drive cams. Moreover, such cams must be synchronized to the other operations of the loom in such a way, that a weave pattern, involving more than one row of carpet pile loops to the next can be made. If more than one pile row is involved in the weave pattern, these cams would have to have unwieldy dimensions and weight, thereby making changes from one weave to another even more complicated.

One object of the present invention is to provide a new vand improved heddle frame drive and control mechanism yof simplified construction having a minimum number of parts and designed to permit changes from one intricate weave pattern to another, with a simple change in only one part thereof.

Another object is to provide a new and improved heddle frame drive and control mechanism operable to lock `cyclically selected frames against movement in either direction, when cyclic inactivity in said frames is indicated by the pattern to be Woven.

A further object is to provide a single drive for all the heddle frames, with a follower mechanism designed to allow the frames moving downward to counterbalance -dynamically through the action of gravity a corresponding number of frames moving upward against the action of gravity, thereby reducing the force necessary to operate the heddle frames through successive cycles.

In accordance with certain features of the invention, there are provided a single continuously operable master driving device for all of the'heddle frames, designed to meet the requirementof all weave patterns contemplated, and a series of selective motion transmitting mechanisms from said device to said heddle frames respectively. Coupling means in these motion transmitting mechanisms respectively are operated by a single master control device indexed in accordance with the pattern of the desired weave to engage or disengage said coupling means in the desired order. When a dilferent weave pattern is desired, all that is required to effect the necessary changes in the ICC heddle frame operation and selections is to change the single master control device.

As a further feature locking means are provided, governed by the single master control device for locking the motion transmitting mechanisms to selected heddle frames during their dwelling periods, to prevent accidental movements of these selected frames during these periods.

As a further feature, the drive mechanism for all the heddle frames consists of a single master drive, which may, for example be a cam or a hydraulic cylinder, a follower mechanism, which in the case of a cam drive, may for example, be a roller or other piece engaging the cam, and which in the case of a hydraulic cylinder, may be the piston and piston rod in said cylinder, a connecting mechanism operated from said follower mechanism, and a series of transmissions to said heddle frames adapted to be connected to and disconnected from said connecting mechanism cyclically in accordance with the desired weave pattern. As an additional feature, the connecting mechanism includes twin engagement arms in reverse relationship, one of said arms being adapted to be connected selectively to the heddle frames to be moved downward, the other being adapted to be connected selectively to the heddle frames to be moved upward. With this arrangement, the heddle frames moving downward, assisted by the action of gravity, counterbalance a corresponding number of heddle frames moving upward against the action of gravity, thereby reducing the force necessary to drive said frames.

Various other objects, features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following description and from the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a side elevation of a form of heddle frame drive and control mechanism embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the heddle frame drive and control mechanism taken on lines 2.-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a detail section of the drive cam-operated connecting mechanism taken on lines 3-3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of the device for coupling one lever of the drive cam-operated mechanism to the transmission of a heddle frame, taken on lines 4 4 of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal detail section of a device for locking the transmission to a heddle frame against operation, taken on lines 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal detail section of a device for coupling the other lever of the drive cam-operated connecting mechanism to the transmission of a heddle frame, taken on lines 6--6 of Fig. l;

Fig. 7 is a horizontal detail section of the transmissionv to a pair of heddle frames, taken on lines 7-7 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a detail section of a device for coupling a lever of the driVe-cam-operated connecting mechanism to the transmission of a heddle frame, taken on lines 8-8 of Fig. 1;,

Fig. 9 is a horizontal section of the master pattern weave control device and of parts directly operated therefrom for engaging or disengaging the various transmission couplings and locks, taken on lines 9 9 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 10 is a detail vertical section of the parts operated directly from the control device for engaging or disengaging the various transmission couplings and locks, taken on lines 10-10 of Fig. 9;

Fig. ll is a fragmentary front elevational section of another form of heddle frame drive and control mechanism embodying the present invention, said section being taken on lines 11--11 of Fig. l2;

Fig. l2 is a side elevational section of the heddleV frame drive and control mechanism of Fig. 11 taken on lines 12-12 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a side elevational section of the heddle 3 frame drive and control mechanism of Fig. 11 taken on lines 13--13 of Fig. 11; and

Fig. 14 is a transverse section of the heddle 'frame drive and control mechanism of Fig. 11 taken on lines 14--14 of Fig. 12.

Referring to Figs. lof the drawings illustrating one embodiment of the invention, there is shown a plurality of heddle frames 10 forming part of a weaving loom desirably of the type for making rugs or carpets, such as a loom for making Wilton carpets or rugs. Six of these heddle frames 10 are shown merely for the purpose of illustration, it being understood that any number of these can be provided according to the complexity of weave patterns contemplated. These heddle frames 10 are shown of the standard rectangular type carrying substantially centrally thereof a series of heddles 11 through which the ,warp threads are guided.

` The heddle frames 10 are moved up and down substantially vertically in predetermined sequence to form the sheds through which the filler, or weft threads are passed and to effect thereby the `necessary interlacing of the different threads of the weave. To operate these heddle frames 10 in this manner, there is provided generally a single master driving device 12, shown in the form of a cam,'a follower 13 operated from said cam, a series of transmissions 14 to the heddle frames 10, shown consisting essentially of upstandingrods, one pair of rods for each frame, these rods constituting a bank on one side of the frames and a bank on the other side, a connecting mechanism 16 shownin the form of twin linkages driven from said cam follower, disengageable couplings 17a and 1711 between said linkages and the transmission 14 of each heddle frame 10, by which the drives to the heddle frames may beinterrupted or established at different predetermined phases of a weaving cycle according to the pattern of the weave desired, disengageable locking means 20 for the transmission of each heddle frame by which' selected'heddle frames may be immobilized at different phases of a weaving cycle and a control device 21 for regulating the engagement or disengagement of the couplings 17a and 17b and the locking devices 20, according to the pattern to be woven.

vThe master driving cam 12 (Figs. l and2) is shown of the circular plate 4groove type' secured to a substantially horizontal shaft 25 and driven continuously at a uniform rate in synchronism with otherparts of the loom controlling the picking or,ller laying operations. This cam 12 has a face groove 26 which isl shown symmetrical about a diametrical line, so that the cam makes one-half revolution per pile row of loom movement. Riding in this face groove 26 `is the follower 13 in the form o'f a roller guided for radial substantially horizontal movement by a guide 27"iixed to a stationary bracket 28 and having a radial substantially horizontal slot 30 along which'the follower roller' is reciprocated by the action of the cam.

The connecting mechanism 16 (Figs. l, 2 and 3) operated directly from the cam follower roller 13, consists of an upper linkage 16a and a lower linkage 16b, these linkages being similar and being symmetrically arranged about a substantially horizontal plane passing through the center of rotation of the cam 12. The upper linkage 16a comprises ashaft 32a supported in fixed bearings (not shown) and having rigidly secured thereto near opposite ends a'pair of aligned arms 33a in the form of levers forming with said shaft av rigid lever-like U-shaped structure and carryingelements of the couplings 17a, said arms extending across the banks of transmission rods. This shaft v32a `is rocked through the. operation of the driving cam' 12k byl means of two links 34a and 35a jointed together end'toend. The link 34a is rigidly secured at itsother Vend tothe v'shaft 32a and the link 35a has a swivel connection atitsother end to the cam follower roller 13. i'

vThelower linkage 16h contains parts `32b, 33b,34b

Cit

and 35b similar to the parts 32a, 33a, 34a and 35a respectively of the upper linkage 16a and similarly interconnected, the parts 32b and 33b forming a rigid leverlike U-shaped structure as in the case of the upper members 32a and 33a. With this twin symmetrical linkage construction of the connecting mechanism 16, as the driving cam 12 rotates continuously, the upper levers 33a and lower levers 33hl are' moved angularly about the axes of their respective shafts 32a and 32b simultaneously but in opposite directions, so that when the upper levers 33a reach their uppermost upwardly inclined position a shown in full lines in Fig. 1, the lower levers 33h reach their lowermost downwardly inclined position a', when the upper levers reach an intermediate substantially horizontal position b, the lower levers reach an intermediate substantially horizontal position b and when the upper levers reach their lowermost downwardly inclined position c, the lower levers reach their uppermost inclined position c.

The heddle frames 10 are adapted to ybe moved by the operations of the levers 33a and 3317 into any one' of three positions (Fig. l), namely in an upper position a, an intermediate position b" and a lower position c", to lay warps in three positions, as for example, as chain warps and/oras straight stutter warps. Successive heddle frames 10 are vertically displaced progressively in extreme positions a" and c, to cause the warps passing through the heddles 11 of these frames to extend in substantially the sarne inclined planes to form an open shed for the passage of a ller or weft threads therethrough. The heddle frame positions a, b" and c indicate the axes of alignment of the heddle frames 10 in the three different positions indicated and are parallel to the directions a, b and c respectively of the upper levers 33a, and parallel vto the directions c', b and a respectively of the lower levers 33b.

The transmission rods 14 extend substantially vertically, two on opposite sides of each heddle frame 10 so as to form two banks, one on each side of the frames, and are guided for longitudinal slide movement in a pair of upper fixed frames 40 and a pair of lower fixed frames 41. Attheir upper ends, these transmission rods 14 are connected to the midsections of the side pieces 42 of the heddle frames 10 respectively. The connections between the transmission rods 14 and the heddle frames 10y include bushings 43 integral or otherwise rigid with the side pieces 42 of the heddle frames and receiving the upper ends respectively of the transmission rods. Collars '45, secured as for example by set screws 46 to the transmission rods 14 onopposite ends of the `bushings 43, seat against said bushings to connect the rods to the heddle frames 10 for substantially vertical movement therewith, while' permitting said rods to rotate, to effect the necessary engagement or disengagement of the couplings 17a and 17b and the necessary engagement or disengagement of the locking devices 20, as will, be more fully described.

The couplingsr17a between the upper levers 33a and the transmission rods 14 comprise clutch blocks 47a supported on said levers for movements therewith and each having a round passage 48 through which a' corresponding transmission rod 14 passes. These clutch blocks 47a are mounted on the upper levers 33a in a manner to permit each block when the corresponding coupling 17a is engaged to move angularly with the corresponding lever 33a, while permitting said block to move simultaneously along said lever and to swivel simultaneously about the axis of its support on said lever, to maintain theblock in vertical alignment with the corresponding transmission rod 14 passing therethrough. Moreover, the upper levers 33a and the clutch Iblocks 47a are arranged to permit the heddle frames 10 to be placed close together. To accomplish this double purpose, the transmission rods 14 on each yside of the bank of heddle frames 10 are staggered into two files, and each'upper lever 33a comprises three parallel arms 50 rigidly secured together and spaced to form two guideways 51 and 52 to receive with slide lits, two rows respectively of clutch blocks 47a through which the transmission rods of the two les pass respectively. These lever arms 50 have respective slots 53 therealong receiving with slide tits supports 54 for the clutch blocks 47a secured to the opposite sides of the clutch blocks and serving not only as slide bearings for said clutch blocks but also as trunnions therefor.

One set of clutch elements of each coupling 17a cornprises a pair of axially aligned clutch rolls 56a mounted on each transmission rod 14 on diametrically opposite sides thereof, and the clutch block 47a to which said transmission rod passes has integral or otherwise rigid therewith a pair of inside clutch projections 57a on diametrically opposite sides of the block passage 48, with respective grooves 58a to receive said rolls respectively upon rotation of said transmission rod into position to effect such interengagement, as shown in Fig. 4. This causes the transmission rod 14 so engaged to be temporarily connected to the corresponding upper lever 33a for vertical movement in response to the angular movement of said lever. When the transmission rod 14 is rotated in position to bring the clutch rolls 56a out of mesh with the clutch projections 57o on the clutch block 47a, the resulting disengagement allows the clutch block to move idly along said transmission rod in case said transmission rod is locked against longitudinal movement, or said rod to move through said clutch block in case said rod is engaged by its lower corresponding lever 33b for vertical movement in response to the angular movement of said lower lever.

The coupling 1711 between the lower levers 331; and the transmission rods 14 are similar to the couplings 17a and comprise clutch blocks 47b mounted on the lower levers, clutch rolls 5611 on each transmission rod 14 in the diametrical axial plane of the upper clutch rolls 56a on said transmission rod, and clutch projections 57b on said clutch blocks with respective grooves 58h to receive said clutch rolls respectively. These lower coupling parts 47b, 56b, 5711 and 5811 correspond to and are constructed like the upper coupling parts 47a, 56a, 57a and 58a respectively,

-the only diierence between the couplings 17a and 17b being, that the clutch projections 57h on the lower blocks 47h are rotatively displaced from the clutch projections 57a on the upper blocks 47a sufficiently, so that when one pair of axially aligned clutch rolls on one transmission rod 14 engage the clutch projections on one block through which said rod passes, the other pair of axially aligned clutch rolls on said transmission rod are disengaged from the clutch projections on the other block through which said rod passes, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6. To allow for the setting of each transmission rod 14 into either one of two rotative positions to meet this condition and to allow for the setting of the rod into an intermediate locked position in which the two sets of clutch rolls 56a and 56b on the transmission rod are free from both sets of clutch projections 57a and 57h on the two blocks 47a and 47b to which said transmission rod passes7 the two sets of projections in the specific embodiment disclosed are displaced 120 apart.

The clutch projections 57a and 57b on the clutch blocks 47a and 47b respectively have their radially inner ends circular and conformably close to the corresponding transmission rod 14. As the clutch blocks 47a and 47b move axially relative to the corresponding transmission rod 14, they are maintained by the projections 57a and 57b in axial alignment with said rod.

Each transmission rod 14 may be connected to an upper lever 33a in anyone of three positions a, b and c of said lever through the engagement of the upper axially aligned clutch rolls 56a with the clutch projections V57a on the corresponding upper block 47a, or may be connected to a lower lever 3317, in anyone of its three positions a', b' and c' through the engagement of the lower axially aligned clutch rolls 56b with the clutch projections 57b on the corresponding lower block 47b, to move the corresponding heddle frame 10 cyclically into anyone of its three positions a, b and c". The pattern of the desired weave may be such, as to require one or more of the heddle frames 10 to be moved cyclically into anyone of these positions a", b and c, while the other heddle frames are held stationary. During such phases, it is important to lock the stationary heddle frames 10 against accidental movement. To that end, the locking means 20 comprise a pair of locking bars 60 fixed in horizontal position between the upper and lower levers 33a and 3317 on opposite sides of the loom, and having round openings 61 through which respective transmission rods 14 pass freely when disengaged from said locking bars. In each opening 61 of a locking bar 60, there are provided locking projections 62 on opposite sides of the opening, integral or otherwise rigid with the locking bar and provided with respective grooves 63. On each transmission rod 14 between the two pairs of clutch rolls 56a and 56b thereon, are three pairs of locking rolls 64, 65 and 66 spaced therealong, the rolls of each pair being axially aligned and in the diametrical axial plane of the clutch rolls 56a and 56h and being secured to the transmission rod on diametrically opposite sides thereof. These locking rolls 64, 65 and 66 are sized to rit snugly into respective grooves 63 of the locking projections 62 in the opening 61 of the locking bar 60, through which the corresponding transmission rod 14 passes, for locking engagement with said projections, when any pair of these locking rolls is at the level of said grooves and when the transmission rod has been turned to eiect such locking engagement. Since the diametrical center planes of the clutch projections 57a and S7b in the specific embodiment are 120 apart, the diametrical center plane of the locking projections 62 in this specific embodiment is spaced 60 from each of the other planes. The clutch projections 56a and 56b and the locking projections 62 are short enough circumferentially, so that when one pair of these projections is fully engaging corresponding clutch rolls 56a or S6b or locking rolls 64, 65 or 66, the other pairs of these projections are clear of the other rolls in their horizontal planes.

The three pairs of locking rolls 64, 65 and 66 are spaced equal distances apart along each transmission rod 14, this distance being equal to Dtauqa wherein D is the horizontal distance from the axis of the shaft 32a of the upper levers 33a to the center plane of said transmission rod and qb is the angle transversed by said upper levers from their upper extreme position as shown in full lines in Fig. 1 to horizontal midposition, this angle in a specic embodiment of the invention being 20. Since D varies for the transmission rods 14 of different heddle frames 10, according to the positions of the planes of said frames, the distance between the locking rolls 64, 65 and 66 on each transmission rod correspond` ingly increases from heddle frame to heddle frame towards the right (Fig. 1), to accommodate for the inclinations of the levers 33a and 33b in extreme positions and, the required inclinations of the lines of alignment of the, heddle frames in corresponding positions.

The clutch rolls 56a and 56h are spaced on each transmission rod 14 equally distant from the center pair of locking rolls 65 and are so located on said rod in relation to the locking rolls 64, 65 and 66, that when the rod is in its uppermost position and the upper levers 33a are in their uppermost extreme position a, the upper clutch rolls 56a on said rod are in the horizontal plane of the corresponding upper clutch block 47a on the corresponding upper lever in position to eiect engagement with ore7 disengagement from said clutch block upon proper rotation of said'rod, 'while the lowermost locking rolls 66 on s aid rod are in position in the locking bar 60 to be engaged thereby or` disengaged therefrom, upon proper rotation of said rod,'as shown vin full lines in Fig. 1. ln this position, thel'ower clutch rolls 56h in the transmission rod 14 are located'above and clear'of the corresponding lower clutch block' 5.711' on the corresponding lower lever 33]; in its a' position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 1, and are located in c' position ofsai'd lower lever to be connected upon proper rotation'of said rod to said lower lever, when said lower lever reaches said 'c' position.

With the sets of clutch rolls 56a and 5611 and the sets o f `locking rolls 64, 65 and 66 arranged and spaced as described' on a transmission rod 14, the locking rolls come in positions opposite the corresponding blocking bar 60 in the three 'positions d", b and c of the corresponding heddle frame '10, so that said heddle frame may be locked to said locking bar or may be disengaged therefrom in any one'of these three positions. The upper clutch rolls 56a are so located on the transmission rod 14 as to move with'said rod into any one of three positions to pick up connective' engagement with the corresponding clutch block '57a on the corresponding upper lever 33a, in any oneof the three corresponding positions a, b and c of said upper lever, and the clutch rolls 561; are so located on the transmission rod 14 as to move with said rod into any one of three positions to pick up engagement with the corresponding clutch block 57b on the corresponding lower lever 33h, in any one of the three corresponding positions a', b and c of said lower lever,

- The control device 21 for regulating the engagement or disengagement of the couplings 17a and 1'7 b and the locking devices 20 comprises a master weave pattern control member '70, supported for continuous operation and adapted to be removed easily from its bearings to permit substitution of other control members therefor and to permit thereby a quick and easy change from one weave pattern lto another. This control member 70 is in the form of an endless member carrying a series of weave pattern indices 71 and is shown more specically in the form of a drum, although as far as certain aspects of the invention are concerned, it may be in the form of a chain. The indices 71 are specifically shown as cams on the drum 70, each contoured to rotate the two transmission rods 14 of a corresponding heddle frame 10.

'For transmitting the motions of the control cams 71 to the transmission rods 14, the lower ends of the transmission rods passing through the guide frames 41 are formed as pinions 72, which mesh with racks 73 guided in said guide frames for end'wise movement. There is one guide frame 41'for each side of the loom, and each of said guide frames comprises two similar confronting plates 74 held rigidly in spaced parallel relation. Each rack 73 is held-between these plates 74 and is guided for endwise movement in grooves in said plates. At one end, each rack 73 projects outwardly in the path of a corresponding control cam 71 and terminates at this end in a'tappet 76`for follower engagement with said cam. The racks 73 are spring-pressed, so that they are normally urged in voutward position and extend across the loom from one side to the other, to control the transmission rods 14 simultaneously on opposite sides of the heddle frames 10.

The face groove 26 on the master driving cam 12 is designed to allow for the necessary pauses at the three diierent positions a", b and c" of the heddle frames 10. This cam groove 26 is shown with a high circular section 80 of substantial angle, concentric with the center of rotation of the cam, a low circular section 8l of` corresponding angle and transition sections 82, each with'a short dwell portion S3. The high circular section 80'of the cam groove 26 holds the levers 33a and 33h in the extreme outward positions a' and a" shown in full lines in Fig. l and the low circular section YS1 of the cam groove :26.,holds the levers `in the extreme inward posi-v.

tions' 'c 'a'nd`L'c" shown in dot an'd dashl lines'in Fig." l. The pauses afforded 'to 'the levers 33av andvllb by the sections 81 and 82 of the cam groove 26 in extreme positions a,a,c and c thereof, allow time not only for the picking or laying of the ller or' weft threads in the sheds but also allow time vfor the turning of the transmission rods `14 through the action of the control device 21 to effect engagement or disengagement of the couplings17a and 17b` and engagementor disengagement of the lock'- ing devices 20 in these extreme positions offthe" levers. The dwell sections 83 in the cam groove 26 afford the necessary pauses when the levers 33a and 33b reach horizontal midpositions b and b', to allow time for the turning of the transmission rods 14 through the action of the control device 21, to Veffect engagement or disengagement of the locking devices 20 in these midpositions of the levers.

The operation of the heddle frame drive and control mechanism is believed apparent from the foregoing description, but is summarized herein with particular reference to the first heddle frame 10 at the left of the bank shown in'Fig. l. As shown in full lines in Fig. 1, the transmission rods 14 of the rst heddle frame 10 are turned so that the upper clutch rolls 56a are engaged in the projections 57a of the corresponding clutch blocks 47a, so that the rods are connected to the upper levers 33a, while the heddle frame 10 is in uppermost position a". In this rotative position of the transmission rods 14, the lower clutch rolls 561; are clear of the lower levers 33h, so that there is no possibility of these rods being connected at this stage to the lower levers 33b and thereby overrun'ning their extreme upper position shown in Fig. l. Also, in the stage shown in full lines in Fig, l, the locking rolls 64, 65 and 66 on the transmission rods 14 are out of engagement with the projections 62 on the locking bars 60, although the lowest sets of locking rolls 66 are at the level of the projections 62 on the locking bars 60. When a transition section 82 of the cam groove 26 reaches the cam follower 13, the upper levers 33a move angularly downward and the lower levers 33h move angularly upward, but since the transmission rods 14 are connected to the upper levers 33a, they will be moved downward by said upper levers 33a until the next dwell section 83 of the cam groove reaches the cam follower 13. At this phase, the levers 33a and 33b are horizontal in midposition b and b', the rst heddle frame 10 is in intermediate b position, the locking rolls 65 on the transmission rods 14 for said heddle frame are at the level of the projections 62 on the locking bars 60 and the lower clutch rolls 56h are in the clutch blocks 47b of the lower horizontal levers 33b. At this dwelling phase, one of three actions may take place, according to the pattern to be woven, namely the transmission rods 14 may remain in the same rotative position, in which case, when inward angular movements of the levers 33a and 33b towards positions c and c are resumed, the upper levers 33a will continue to move the heddle frame 10 downward towards its lowermost position c"; the transmission rods 14 may be turned by the control device 21 to disengage the upper clutch rolls 56a from the projections 57a of the corresponding clutch blocks 47a and at the same time cause the locking rolls 65 to engage with the projections 62 on the locking bars 60, in which case the transmission rods are locked against movement, and the rst heddle frame 10 is locked in intermediate position b, while the levers 33a and 33b resume inv/ard angular movements towards each other after the pause has ended; or the transmission rods 14 may be turned to disengage the upper clutch rolls 56a from the projections 57a of the corresponding clutch blocks 47a to disengage said rods from the upper levers 33a and at the same time, cause the lower clutch rolls 56h on the rods to engage with the projections 57b of the corresponding clutch blocks 47b on the lower levers 3311, lwhereupon thetr'ansmission rods become connected toZ the lo'wer levers 33b, and the kiirst heddle frame is thereby moved upward from its intermediate b"position,

upon resumption of inward angular movements of the levers 33a and 33b after the pause has ended.

During each revolution of the drive cam 12, the levers 33a and 33b make one complete cycle from outward extreme positions shown in full lines in Fig. 1 to inward extreme positions shown in dot and dash lines, back to outward extreme positions. During the inward moving phase of the levers 33a and 33b, assuming that the heddle frames are in their uppermost a" position at the beginning of this phase, these heddle frames may be moved (1) from uppermost position a" to intermediate position b" where they pause, and then to lowermost position c, (2) or from uppermost position a to intermediate position b" and locked therein, while the levers 33a and 33b resume their inward movements, (3) or from upper position af' to intermediate position b and returned to uppermost position a, while the levers 33a and 33h resume their inward movements, as already described.

Assuming that the rst condition takes place, namely the heddle frame 10 is moved during the inward movements of the levers 33a and 33h, from the uppermost p0- sition a to the lowermost position c"then during the outward return movements of the levers 33a and 33b from the positions c and c' shown in dot and dash to the full line positions a and a' shown in Fig. 1, either one of the'following actions may take place according to the rotative position of the transmission rods 14 connected to they rst heddle frame 10 under consideration. 1) The heddle frame 10 may be moved upward by the returning drive action of the upper levers 33a thereon from lowermost c position to intermediate position b", where the heddle frame dwells for a short period and then resumes its upward movement until it reaches its uppermost a" position; (2) the heddle frame 10 may be locked in its lowermost c" position during the full inward movements of the levers 33a and 33h from outward extreme positions a, a to inward eXtreme positions c, c; (3) the heddle frame 10 may be locked in its lowermost c.' position during the inward movements of the levers 33a and 33h from outward extreme positions until the levers reach intermediate positions b and b' and the heddle frame reaches intermediate position b", whereupon a rotation by the control device 21 of the transmission rods 14 connected to said heddle frame, causes these transmission rods to be picked up connectively by the upper levers 33b and the heddle frame moved thereby from position c" to position b, while the upper levers are completing the upper half of their upward stroke and the lower levers 33a are moving downward through the lower'half of their downward stroke idly in relation to said transmission rods; or (4) the heddle frame 10 may be moved upward by the return drive action of the upper levers 33a thereon from lowermost position c t-o Iintermediate position b", whereupon the transmission rods 14 are rotated to lock the heddle frame in this intermediate position, while the levers 33a and 33b resume their outward return movements idly in relation to said transmission rods.

It was noted that when the heddle frame 10 `is lin uppermost position a" and the levers 33a and 33b are in extreme outward positions a and a' shown in full lines in Fig. l, the lower clutch rolls 56h are clear above the lower levers 33h, thereby preventing overrun of the heddle frame above the position a". Similarly, when the heddle frame 10 is in lowermost position c" and the levers 33a and 3312 are in extreme outward positions a and a', the upper clutch rolls 56a are clear belowthe upper levers 33a, thereby preventing overrun of the heddle frame below the position c".

Although the operations of all of `the heddle frames 10 are apparent from the foregoing discussion of the operation of the iirst heddle frame on the left hand end of the bank in Fig. 1, the operations of the other heddle frames is herein briey discussed:

The vsecond heddle frame 10 is shown in- Fig. -1 for th"- purpose of illustration in intermediate position b"',-and` the transmission rods 14 connected to said heddle framev are shown so turned, that the upper and lower Aclutch rolls 56a and 56b on said rods are disengaged from the corresponding clutch blocks 47a and 47b, causing the disengagement of the upper and lower levers 33a and 331 from sa-id rods, while the intermediate locking rolls 65 on said rods are in engagement with the locking bars 60. This heddle frame 10 will be locked in this central position b", while the levers 33a and 33]; move up or down idly in relation to said heddle frame, until the transmission rods 14 are turned clockwise or counterclockwise by the control device 21.

The third heddle frame 10 is shown in Fig. 1 for the purpose of illustration in lowermost c" position, and the transmission rods 14 for said frame so turned, that the lower clutch rolls Sb on said transmission rods are en` gaged with the corresponding clutch blocks 47b on the lower levers 33h, causing the heddle frame to move up and down with the motion of said levers, until the rods are turned for locking or for drive engagement with the upper levers 33a.

The fourth and fth heddle frames 10 Iare shown in Fig. 1 for the purpose of illustration in the uppermost a" position, so that they will operate as the first heddle frame, until the supporting transmission rods are turned in the manner indicated.

The sixth heddle frame 10 is shown in Fig. 1 for the purpose of illustration in intermediate position b", andv the observations made regarding the second heddle frame apply.

The control device 21 must be synchronized to the loom motion and to the driving cam 12, so that the engagement and disengagement changes of the transmission rods 14 take place at the proper phases, in relation t0 the. weaving operati-ons. If more than one row of piles are involved in a certain weave pattern, the control device 21 must be large enough in diameter to handle the necessary changes. For a weave pattern, in which fo'lr rows of piles are to be laid for each repeat, the control device 21 must rotate 1A revolution per pile row of the loom movement and must be designed to induce the necessary changes in the positions of the selected transmission rods 14 to follow this pattern.

It a chain is used as the control device, the number of' changes in the weave pattern possible would be practically unlimited. Whether the control device 21 is in the form yof a drum as shown, or in the form of a chain, a quick andsimple change from one weave pattern to another can be elected, since the control devices of eitherV form'can be easily replaced. Such changes in the weave pattern are effected without changes in the drive cam 12.

lt should be knoted that the arrangements of the heddle frames 10 and the drives therefor fare such as to attain, a certain degree of dynamic balance. Because of the twin arrangement of the levers 33a and 33h in relation to the drive cam 12, while one lever may be moving a number o'f heddle frames 10 upward against the action of gravity, ithe other lever may be movinga number of heddle frames downward with the assistance of gravity. The number of heddle frames 10 moving downward will counterbalance a corresponding number of heddle frames mov-ing upward, thereby decreasing to a corresponding extent the force required to drive cam 12. 1f, for example, three heddle frames 10 are rising, while two `heddle frames 10 are descending, the main forces needed for this operation, would be the forces necessary to overcome the inertias of the live heddle frames plus the force required to lift only one heddle frame against the action of gravity.

Figs. 11-14 indicate another embodiment of the invention and show a plurality of heddleframe-s 90, 91 and 92, three being illustratedmerely for the purpose of illustration, it being understood that any number of these can' be providedy according tothe-complexity of weave pattern contemplated. These heddle frames 90, 91 and 92 are shown of the rectangular type carrying substantially centrally thereof, three series of heddles 93, 94 and 95 respectively. f

To operate the heddle frames 90, 91 and 92 up and down cyclically in accordance. with the pattern to be woven, there is provided generally a single driving device 96, shown comprising a pair of hydraulic cylinders 97 (only one beingshown), one on .each side of the loom', a-follower 98 comprising a piston (notshown) in each cylinder and a piston rod 100 connected to the correspending-piston, a series of transmissions to Ithe heddle frames 90, 91 and 92 shown consisting essentially of upstanding transmission rods 101, one pair of rods for each frame, the rods lon each side of the frames` being arranged as a` bank, a connecting mechanism 102 consisting essentially of horizontal arms 103a and 103b on each side of the loom. extending across the bank of rods on the corresponding sideA of the loom and operated from a corresponding hydraulic cylinder 97 through the corresponding piston rod 100, disengageable couplings 104:1 and 104b between said arms and the transmission rods 101 of each heddle frame 90, 91 and 92, by which the drive-s to the heddle frames may be interrupted or established atpredetermined phases of the weaving cycle according to the pattern of the weave desired, disengageable lockingmeans 105 for the transmission of each heddle frame `by which selected heddle frames may be immobilized at different phases of a weaving cycle and a control device (not shown) similar to the control device 21 in the embodiment of Figs. 1-10, for regulating the engagement or disengagement of the couplings 104 and 104a and the locking devices 105, according to the The upper arms 103a on opposite pattern. to be woven. sidesvof the loom form an arm-like structure and are operable inunison and the lower arms 103b on opposite sides of the loom also form an arm-like struct-ure and are also operablein uni-son.

vAs already described, ,the master driving device 96 comprises thetwo hydraulic cylinders 97, one on each side of `the-loom. These cylinders 97 are mounted in opstanding position and hydraulic working tluid is delivered thereto and discharged therefrom alternately through connections 105 atthe ends of thel cylinders. Flow through these connections 106 is controlled in a wellknown` manner, to cause the piston in each cylinder 97 to move up and down at predetermined rates according to thev rate of loom operation, and the corresponding Y piston rod 100 to move axially and vertically at this rate.

The connecting mechanism 102, consists essentially of horizontal arms 103a and 103b on each side of the loom, disposed one above the other and driven vertically and cyclically in opposite directions from a corresponding hydraulic cylinder 97 through the corresponding piston rod 100, while maintaining said arms horizontal. The connecting mechanism 102 on eachside of the loom for so operating the arms 103a 'and 103b comprises an upstanding double rack 108 connected at its lower end to the corresponding piston rod 100 and at its upper end to the center part of the upper arm 103:1. Flanking this rack 108 and meshing with opposite sides thereof are two pinions 110 secured to respective shafts '111 at one end on one side of the loom and extending across the loom to the opposite side Where said shafts carry similar pinions meshing with the rack associated with the hydraulic cylinder on the latter side of the loom, thereby attaining synchronization of the two heddle frame operating mechanisms on opposite sides of. the loom. These pinion shafts 111V may be supported in any suitable manner, as for example, 'by journalling into bars 112.serving.as part of the locking means 105, and the pinions..110. at each end-0f said shafts mesh not only 12 withgthe corresponding rack 108but lalso with-a pair of vertical racks 113 flanking said pinions and connected at their lower ends to the ends of the lower horizontal arm 103b.

With the arrangement described, as the piston rod 100 at each side of thefrloom moves up and downit moves the rack, 108 in4 the same directions and causes the corresponding movement of the upper arm 103:1 up and down, 1 At the Sametime, the pinions 110 transmit the movement of the rack 108 to the racks 113 but in opposite direction and this movement ofthe latter racks in turn is transmitted to the` lower arm 103b. The two arms 103a-and 103b are thereby made to move up and down cyclically in opposite directions and at a rate determined 'by the rate'of reciprocation of the hydraulic piston rod 100, so that when the upper arm 103:1 reaches its uppermost position a s hownin full lines in Fig. 12, the lower arm 103b reaches its lowermost position a', and when the upper armg103a reaches its lowermost position b, the lower arm 103b reaches its uppermost position b.

The heddle frames 90, 91 and 92 are adapted to be moved by the operation of the arms 103a and 103b into anyone of three positions (Fig. i2), namely in an upper position a, an intermediate position b and a lower position c, to lay warps in three positions, `as for example, as chain warps and/or as straight stutter warps. Since the arms`10ia and 103i: are parallel and maintain this relationship throughout all of their operations, the heddle frames 90, 91 and 92 are all moved thereby equal distances.- However, to attain the necessary angularity in thelines Aof the shed, even though the heddle frames 90, 9,1 and A92 move equal distances, the openings in the' heddles 93, 94 and `95' of said frames respectively increase in vertical length progressively from the front heddle frame 92 to the rear heddle frame 90. The front heddle frame 92 has heddles 9S with opening-s small enough tocarry the line of warp with it with little or no vertical play inthe heddles, while the other heddle frames 90 and 91 have heddles 93 and 94 with openings respectively,` sufficiently long, so that in uppermost position yaz of thesejheddle frames, the warps extend slopingly across the bottom .of their heddle openings, in intermediate position b" of these heddle frames, the warps extend substantially horizontally across the middle of their heddle openings, and in lowermost position across the topv of their heddle openings, as shown in Fig.

12. The lines a", bf and c" in Fig. 12 indicate the lines Referring to Figs. 11 and 12, certain dimensional forr l mulas employed are as follows:

wherein TR represents maximum traverse of thev arms 103m and- 103]? corresponding to the cylinder stroke, and n represents the'total number of heddle frames. The other symbols in the formulas are indicated in Fig. l2.

The transmission 4rods 101y extend substantially vertically,two on-opposite sides of each heddle frame 90, 91 and 92and are-guided for vertical movement in a pair of upper fixed-frames and a pair of lower fixed frames 121. H At their upper ends, these transmission rods 101 are connected tothe side pieces of the heddle frames 90, 91 and 92 by brackets'122secured Ato theseside pieces andcarryingrespective bushings 123 receiving the upper ends ofthe transmission-rods respectively. To connect ther transmission rods 101 to the bushings 123 for movements up and down therewith, Whilelpermitting these rods to rotate in these bushings for engagement of the c of these heddle frames, the w-arps extend slopinglyA A13 rods with or disengagement of the rods from the master drive 96, the upper ends of these rods are reduced to form shoulders 124 upon which the bushings 123 seat, and the extreme ends of the rods carry collars 125 to retain the rods on the bushings.

The couplings 10411 between the upper arm 10311 and each of the transmission rods 101 on one side of the loom comprises a pair of axially aligned clutch rolls 12611 mounted on the transmission rod on diametrically opposite sides thereof. The upper arm 10311 has round holes 12711 through which the transmission rods 101 extend respectively for vertical movements therethrough and integral or otherwise rigid with said arm in each of said holes are a pair of projections 12811 on diametrically opposite sides of the opening, with respective grooves 13011 to receive the clutch rolls 12611 on the corresponding transmission rod upon rotation of said transmission rod into position to effect such interengagernent. This causes the transmission rod 101 so engaged to be temporarily connected to the corresponding upper arm 10311 for vertical movement with said upper arm. When the transmission rod 101 is rotated in position to bring the clutch rolls 12611 out of mesh with the clutch projections 12811 in the opening 12711 of the upper arm 10311 through which said rod passes, the resulting disengagement allows the arm to move idly along the transmission rod, in case said transmission rod is locked against longitudinal movement, or said rod to move through said arm in case said rod is engaged by the lower arm 10311 for vertical movement with said lower arm.

The couplings 10417 between the lower arm 103b and each of the transmission rods 101 on one side of the loom are similar to the couplings 10411 and comprise a pair of clutch rolls 12611 on each transmission rod in the diametrical axial plane of the upper clutch rolls 12611 on said transmission rod, and a pair of diametrical clutch projections 12811 integral or otherwise rigid with the lower arm and extending in an opening 12719 through which the rod extends, said clutch projections having respective grooves 130b to receive the clutch rolls 126!) respectively upon rotation of the rod into appropriate position. The lower parts 126b, 127b, 128b and 13011 of the coupling 10411 correspond to and are constructed like the upper parts 12611, 12711, 12811 and 13011respectively of the coupling 104b, the only difference between these couplings being, that the clutch projections 12811 on the lower arm 103b are rotatively displaced from the clutch projections 12811 on the upper arm 10311 suiciently, so that when one pair of axially aligned rolls 12611 or 1261; on one transmission rod 101 engage the clutch projections in the hole of one arm through which the rod passes, the other pair of axially aligned clutch rolls on said rod are disengaged from the clutch projections in the hole of the other arm through which said rod passes. To allow for the setting of each transmission rod 101 into either one of two rotative positions to meet this condition and to allow for the setting of the rod into an intermediate locked position in which the two sets of clutch rolls 12611 and 126b on the transmission rod are free from both sets of clutch projections 12711 and 128b on the two arms 10311 and 103k, the two sets of projections in the speciiic embodiment disclosed are displaced 120 apart. The positions of the clutch projections 12811 and 128b correspond to the positions of the clutch projections 5711 and 57b respectively shown in Figs. 4 and 6 relating to the iirst embodiment of the invention disclosed herein.

As in the embodiment of Figs. 1-10, in the embodiment of Figs. ll-l4, it is sometimes desirable to lock a heddle frame in xed position, while the other heddle frames are being moved into a new shed position. To that end, the locking means 105 comprises the horizontal locking bar 112 at each side of the loom, located between the arms 10311 and 10311 and afxed at its ends to the side pieces of a frame 136 by any suitable means. This locking bar 112 has a series of round openings 137 through which respective transmission rods 101 pass freely when disengaged from said locking bar. In each opening 137 of the locking bar 112, there are provided locking projections 138 on opposite sides of the opening, integral or otherwise rigid with the locking bar and provided with respective grooves 140. Secured to each transmission rod 101 between the two pairs of clutch rolls 12611 and 12611 thereon and on diametrically opposite sides of the rod, are a pair of axially aligned locking rolls 141 in the diametrical axial plane of the clutch rolls 12611 and 12615. These locking rolls 141 are sized to it snugly into respective grooves 140 of the locking projections 138 in the opening 137 of the locking bar 112 through which the corresponding transmission rod 101 passes for locking engagement with said projections when the locking rolls are at the level of said grooves and when the transmission rod has been turned to effect such locking engagement. Since the diametrical center planes of the clutch projections 12811 and 128b in the specific embodiment are apart, the diametrical center plane of the locking projections 138 is spaced 60 from each of the other planes, as shown in Fig. 14. The clutch projections 12811 and 12811 and the locking projections 138 are short enough circumferentially, so that when one pair of these projections is fully engaging corresponding clutch rolls 12611 or 126b or locking rolls 141, the other pairs of these projections are yclear of the other rolls in their horizontal planes.

The master control device (not shown) for regulating the engagement or disengagement of the couplings 10411 and 104b and the locking means 105 comprises a master weave pattern control member, such as the control member 70 in the embodiment of Figs. 1 10. For transmitting the motions of the control cams on this control member to the transmission rods 101, the lower ends of these rods passing through the guide frames 121 on opposite sides of the loom are formed as pinions 142, which mesh with racks 143 guided in said guide frames for endwise movement and which carry respective rolls 144 for follower engagement with the cams on the master control device (not shown). The guide frames 121 are built of confronting plates as in the case of the guide frames 41 in the embodiment of Figs. l-lO, to receive sliclably the racks 143, and these racks are spring-pressed into engagee ment with the cams on the master control device and extend across the loom from one side to the other to control the transmission rods 101 simultaneously on opposite sides of the heddle frames 90, 91 and 92.

The operation of the heddle frame drive and control mechanism of Figs. 11-14 is believed apparent from the foregoing description but is summarized herein. Referring to Fig. l2 of the drawings, the rear heddle frame 90 is shown in lowermost position c, the intermediate heddle frame 91 is shown in intermediate position b and the front heddle frame 92 is shown in uppermost position 11, these position lines passing through the center planes of the heddle openings of said frames. In the position shown in full lines in Fig. l2, each of the transmission rods 101 carrying the rear heddle frame 90 is turned to cause the lower clutch rolls 126b 'to engage the clutch projections 128]; in the lower arm 10319, so that these transmission rods are coupled to the lower arm, while the other rolls 12611 and 141 are disengaged from the other clutch projections 12811 on the upper arm 10311 and the locking projections 130 on the locking bar 112. As long as the transmission rods 101 carrying the heddle frame 90 are turned into the position indi cated, these transmission rods are connected to the lower arm 10311 and move therewith between positions 11 and b.

lt should be noted that the full traverse of the arms 10311 and 103b covers only half the traverse of the heddle frames 90, 91 and 92 in moving between uppermost position a and lowermost position c. Therefore, the arm 10311 or varm 103b alone cannot be employed to move -15 the heddle frames between these extreme positions. To accomplish full traverse 'ofthe heddle framesbetween their extreme positions, th'e appropriate .transmission rods 101 must be disengaged from lone of the arms 103a and 103]: and coupled Ltol the 'other of said arms, while said arms are in extreme in'ner'positions b and b shown in dot and dash lines in` Fig.' `12,`.corresponding to the intermediate position b of the heddle frame selected for full traverse. The necessary changeover from one of the arms 103cz and 1031) to the other for the .purpose indicated is accomplished by an appropriate rotation of the pertinent transmission rods 101 and takesplace at the ends of the downward cylinder strokes.

It should be noted that all engagements and disengagements of ,they couplings 10411 and 104b and of the locking means 105 take place at the ends of the cylinder strokes, and the usual pauses of the piston rods 100 at the ends ot these strokes, inherentin hydraulic cylinder operations, afford the necessary dwell interval to vaccomplish the necessary changeovers.

Considering as an example, the rear heddle frame 90 shown in Fig. l2, assuming that the heddle frame coupled to the lower arm 10317 through the appropriate transmission rod 101 has been brought thereby into the lowermost position c by the upward stroke of the hydraulic cylinder 97, and assuming that the patternto be woven indicates the movement of the heddle frame from this lowermost position to its uppermost position a during the next two strokes of the hydraulic cylinder,

then while the transmission rod remains in the rotative position indicated, the lower arm 103b coupled to the transmission rod moves as a result of the downward stroke of the hydraulic cylinder from its lowermost position a shown in full lines in Fig. 12 to its uppermost position b shown in dot and dash lines, while the upper arm 103e disengaged from said transmission rod moves from uppermost position a shown in full lines in Fig. 12 to lowermost position b shown in dot and dash lines. In these inner extreme position band b' of the arms 103@ and 103k, the heddle frame 90 will be in its intermediate position b" and the upper clutch rolls 126a on the transmission rod 101 will be in the corresponding opening 127:: on the arm 103e opposite the grooves 130a in the clutch projections 128a in said opening. At -this stage, the corresponding transmission rod 101 is turned by the master control in position to cause the clutch rolls 126b on said rod to slip out-of the grooves 1301; in the clutch projections 1281) on the lower arm 103b to effect disengagement of said transmission rod from said lower arm and to cause the clutch rolls 126a to -slip into the grooves 130a in the Clutch projection 128a on the upper arm 103a to couple said transmission rod to said upper arm. Upon the next upward stroke of the hydraulic cylinder 97, the upper arm 103g is moved upward from lowermost position b to uppermost position a, and the transmission rod 101 coupled thereto is moved upward therewith, to move the heddle frame 90 from intermediate position b to uppermost position a.

lt should be noted that in any one of the three possible positions a", b and c of any one of the heddle frames 90, 91 and 92, there will always be at least a pair of rolls 12851, 128b or 141 on each of the transmission rods 101 of the heddle frame in a corresponding opening 137 of the locking bar 112 opposite the grooves 140 of the locking projections 138 in said opening, so that by turning the transmission rod in appropriate direction at this phase, the transmission rod can be locked against movement and the corresponding heddle `frame heldin anyone of these three positions, while the other heddle frames are undergoing movements. The rolls 123a and 125i) therefore serve not only as clutch rolls to effect coupling of the transmission rods 101 of any one heddle frame to either of the two movable arms .103m and 10317 but also asplocking rolls to effect locking of the transmission rods to the fixed locking bar 112. In the construction of Figs. ll-l4 therefore, it is not necessary to provide on each transmission rod 101, three sets of locking rolls and two sets of 'clutch `rolls as in the construction of Figs. l-lObut the functions of these rolls can be carried out byI three sets of rolls on each transmission rod, as shown and described. However, in the construction of Figs. 1144, -the'movement ofthe heddle frame from one extreme position to another requires the coupling of the pertinent transmission rod 101 from one of the arms 103:1 and 103b to the other, as lalready described.

While the invention has been described with particular reference to specific embodiments, itl is to be understood that it is not to be limited thereto, but is to be construed broadly and restricted solely by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a loom, a plurality of heddle frames, downwardly extending transmission rods connected to opposite sides of said frames and supported to move up and down, a pair of said rods being provided for each frame, a drive for said frames transmitting motion to meet rcquirements of diterent weave patterns, and means for cyclically connecting selected pairs of said rods to said drive and cyclically disconnecting selected pairs of said rods from said drive in accordance with a predetermined weave pattern, to cause corresponding shedding movements of said frames following said pattern.

2. In a loom, a plurality of heddle frames, transmission rods connected to opposite sides of said frames for movements therewith, a pair for each frame, at least one rod of each pair being supported for rotation about its longitudinal axis relative to its corresponding heddle frame, a drive for said frames, Weave pattern control means for cyclically rotating selected rods in accordance with the weave pattern represented by said control means, and means responsive to the rotation of said selected rods for connecting the selected rods to said drive or for disconnecting the selected rods from said drive according to the character of rotation.

3. In a loom, a plurality of heddle frames, transmission rods connected to opposite sides of said frames for movements therewith, a pair for each frame, at least one rod of each pair being supported for rotation about its longitudinal axis relative to its corresponding heddle frame, a drive for said frames havinga pair of members driven thereby cyclically in opposite directions, weave pattern control means for cyclically rotating selected rods in anyone of two positions in accordance with the weave pattern represented by said control means, means responsive to the rotation of the selected rods into one of said positions for connecting one of said driven members to the selected rods and for simultaneously disconnecting the other driven member from the selected rods, to cause the corresponding frame to be connected for movement in one direction for shedding operations, and means responsive to the rotation of the selected rods into the other position for connecting said other driven member to the selected rods and for simultaneously disconnecting the said one driven member from the selected rods, to cause the corresponding frame to be connected for movement in the opposite direction for shedding operations.

4. In a loom, a plurality of heddle frames, transmission rods connected to opposite sides of said frames, a pair for each frame movable therewith for shedding movements, at least one rod of each pair being supported for rotation about its longitudinal axis relativeto its corresponding heddle frame, a drive for said frames having a pair of members driven cyclically thereby in opposite directions, weave pattern control means for cyclically rotating selected rods in anyone of three positions in accordance with the weave pattern represented by said control means, disengageable means for locking lselected rods against shedding movements, and means operable in response to the rotation of selected rods from anyone asiat/7e of said positions to anyone of the other two positions, for electing (1) connection of one of said driven members to selected rods and simultaneous disconnection of the other driven member from selected rods, or (2) connection of one of said driven members to selected rods and simultaneous disengagement of the locking means to selected rods, or (3) engagement of the locking means to selected rods and simultaneous disconnection of one of said driven members from selected rods, according to the position from which the selected rods are rotated and the position to which the selected rods are rotated.

5. In a loom, a plurality of heddle frames, a bank of transmission rods connected to the sides of said frames respectively and depending therefrom, means guiding said rods for endwise movements, a drive, a pair of arms one above the other on each side of said frames, operated from said drive and extending across the bankof transmission rods, each arm of one pair forming a set with a corresponding arm of another pair, said arms on each side of said frames being cyclically moved simultaneously in opposite directions up and down from extreme outward positions to extreme inward positions and then back again to extreme outward positions, and the arms of each set being operated together in unison in the same directions and weave pattern control means for selectively connecting rods to either set of arms and for selectively disconnecting rods from either set of armsy in anyone of the two positions of each set of arms in accordance with the pattern represented by said control means, to move said heddle frames for shedding operations.

6. In a loom, a plurality of upstanding heddle frames, a bank of transmission rods connected to said frames respectively, a drive, an arm extending across the bank of said rods and cyclically driven from said drive up and down, a series of clutch members carried by said arm, the transmission rods passing freely through respective clutch members, said rods and said clutch members having respective clutch elements interengageable for drive connections when the rods are rotated into one position and disengageable for drive disconnection when the rods are rotated into another position, and weave pattern control means operable when said arm reaches predetermined positions for rotating selected rods in either one of their two positions, in accordance with the pattern represented by said control means.

7. In a loom, a plurality of heddle frames, a bank of opstanding transmission rods connected to said frames respectively, a drive, a pair of similar arms extending across the bank of said rods, one above the other, means for cyelically driving said arms simultaneously in opposite directions up and down from said drive, whereby said arms move cyclically from extreme outward positions to extreme inward poistions and then back to extreme outward positions, a series of clutch members carried by each of said arms and having respective clutch elements, the transmission rods passing freely through respective clutch members, each rod passing through substantially vertically aligned clutch members carried by said arms respectively, each rod having two clutch elements. spaced therealong for separate drive engagement with the clutch elements on the aligned clutch members, the clutch elements on each rod and on each corresponding pair of aligned clutch members being such, that when the rod is in one rotative position, o-ne clutch element on the rod engages the clutch element on one of the corresponding aligned clutch members while the other clutch element on the rod is disengaged from the clutch element on the other of the corresponding aligned clutch members, and when the rod is in another rotative position, the reverse takes place, and a weave pattern control means for rotating selected rods from one position of the rods to the other position, when the arms reach their extreme positions.

8. In a loom, the combination as described in claim 7, comprising a fixed locking trame having openings through f l 8 which the transmission rods freely pass, each of said rods having lockingy elements therealong, and said locking frame having in each of said openings a locking element adapted to interlock with one of said locking elements on the rod passing through said opening in accordance with the lengthwise position of said rod, said locking elements on said locking fra-ine and said locking elements on said rods being arranged to` eIect locking interengagement when the rods areV rotated into a third position and to effect disengagement' when the rods a-re rotated into anyone of their other two positions, said control means being operable to rotate said rods insaid third position in anyone of the extreme positions of said arms, in accordance with the pattern represented by said control means.

9; In a loom, a plurality of heddle frames, upstanding transmission rods connected to said heddle frames to movel said frames up and down into anyone of three positions, control means operable in accordance with a predetermined weave pattern for moving selected rods cyclically endwise from any one position to either of the other positions, to cause shedding movements of the corresponding heddle frames and for cyclically creating pauses in the endwise operati-on of selected rods in said positions, while other selected rods are being moved, and meansl for cyclically lockingy the pausing rods against movements in either endwise direction, until movements for said pausing rods are indicated by the weave pattern.

1G. In a loom, thecombination as described in claim 9, wherein at least one transmission rod of each heddle frame is rotatable, and wherein the means for locking the pausing rods. comprises aiixed locking bar extending across theseries -ofrotatable rods and having a series of openings through which said rotatable rods freely pass respectively, a locking element projecting inwardly from theA wall of each opening, and three locking elements on each of said rotatable rods spaced therealong to move successively into position in said opening opposite the locking element therein, as the heddle frame is moved into said three positions successively, said locking elements being designed to effec-t upon rotation of each rod into one position, interlocking of' the locking element on the rotatable rod when the latter element is located in the correspondi'ng opening with the' locking element on the locking bar in the latter opening, and to effect disengagement of the interlocking elements when the rod is rotated out of said position.

l1'. In a loom, a series of heddle frames, a pair of transmission rods secured to opposite sides of each frame and depending therefrom, a pair of similar arms extending one above the other across the rods on each side of the heddle frames, each arm of one pair forming a set with a corresponding arm of another pair, a drive for oscillating the arms of each pair simultaneously in -opposite directions up and down, and for operating the arms of each set in unison in the same directions and control means operable in accordance with a predetermined weave pattern for cyclically securing some of the rods to one set of arms and some of the rods to the other set of arms, to effect upward shedding movement of one or more selected heddle frames and downward shedding movement of one or more other selected heddle frames, whereby the downwardly moving heddle frames counterbalance a corresponding number of upwardly moving heddle frames and the force required for the operation of the heddle frames through successive cycles is accordingly reduced.

12. In a loom, a plurality of heddle frames, a drive, a pair of rigid lever-like structures supported one above the other and mounted for turning about respective axes, means operated from said drive for moving said structures simultaneously, angularly and cyclically up and down in opposite directions about their respective axes, transmissions to said heddle frames respectively, and selective control means for cyclically connecting selected transmissions to one structure and then to the other cyclically at different phases, in accordance with a predetermined weave pattern, to cause said heddle frames to operate for shedding in accordance with said weave pattern.

13. In a loom, a lplurality of heddle frames, a drive, a pair of lever-like structures supported one above the other, and mounted for turning about respective axes, said structures being movable from outward extreme positions to inward extreme positions, said structures in said extreme positions sloping in the directions corresponding to the upper and lower lines of shed, means operated from said drive for moving said structures simultaneously, angularly and cyclically up and down in opposite directions between said eXtreme positions, transmissions to said heddle frames respectively, and selective control means for cyclically connecting selected transmissions to one structure and then to t'ne other cyclically at diierent phases in accordance with a predetermined weave pattern, to cause said heddle frames to operate for shedding in accordance with said weave pattern and with traverses between extreme positions of the frames increasing from the rear heddle frame, to cause the lines of shed to follow the directions of said structures.

I4. In a loom, a plurality of heddle frames, an upstanding transmission rod connected to each of said frames said rods forming a bank, each rod being rotatable into one of two possible positions, a -pair of levers extending across the bank of transmission rods, means for moving said levers angularly and cyclically up and down in opposite directions, a plurality of clutch blocks supported on each of said levers and having respective openings through which said rods pass respectively, said blocks being pivotally and slidably supported on said levers to permit said block automatically to maintain axial alignment with the rods passing respectively therethrough, in spite of the angular movements of said levers, each of said rods carrying clutch elements spaced therealong and each of said blocks carrying a clutch element in its opening adapted when the rod passing through is turned into one of said positions, to engage with that clutch element on said rod which is in the vicinity of said opening, to cause said rod to be connected to the lever carrying the engaged clutch block for movements with said lever, the clutch elements on the blocks of the two levers being arranged to cause each rod to be connected to the corresponding block on one lever and disengaged from the corresponding block on the other lever, when the rod is turned into one of said positions and to cause said rod to be disconnected from the corresponding block on the said one lever and to be connected to the corresponding block of said other lever, when the rod is turned into the other of said positions, and means for turning said rods selectively between said positions according to the pattern to be woven.

l5. vIn a loom, a plurality of heddle frames, afluid operated drive mechanism for all of said frames, a connecting mechanism operated from said drive mechanism comprising a pair of members driven by said mechanism cyclically and simultaneously up and down in opposite directions, a series of transmissions to said frames respectively, a master weave pattern control device, and means responsive to the operation of said control device for cyclically connecting selected transmissions to or disconnecting selected transmissions from said members, to move said frames cyclically for shedding operations in accordance with the weave pattern represented by said control device.

I6. In a loom, the combination as described in claim l5, wherein the uid operated drive mechanism com said rods 'forming a bank, each rod being rotatable into one of two possible positions, a pair of substantially horizontal arms extending across the bank of transmission: rods, means for translating said arms up and down cycli-- cally in opposite directions, while maintaining said arms:

substantially horizontal, each of said arms having open-4 ings through which said rods pass, each of said rods1 carrying clutch elements spaced therealong and each ofy said arms having in each of its openings a clutch element, adapted when the rod is turned into one of said positions to engage with that clutch element on said rod which is in the vicinity of said opening, to cause said rod to be connected to the arm carrying the engaged clutch element for movements with said arm, the clutch elements on the two arms being arranged to cause each rod to be connected to one arm and disengaged from the other arm, when the rod is turned into one of said positions and to cause said rod to be disconnected from the said one arm and to be connected to said other arm, when the rod is turned into lthe other of said positions, and means for turning said rods selectively between said positions according to the pattern to be woven.

18. ln a loom, a plurality of heddle frames, a drive, a pair of substantially horizontal arm-like structures disposed one above the other, means operated from said drive for translating said structures simultaneously and cyclically up and down in opposite directions, while maintaining said structures substantially horizontal, transmissions to said heddle frames respectively, and selective control means for cyclically connecting selected transmissions to one structure and then to the other structure cyclically at different phases in accordance with a predetermined weave pattern to cause said heddle frames to operate for shedding equal distances between extreme positions, each of said frames having a series of heddles, the heights of the heddle openings increasing from the front heddle frame to the rear heddle frame and said heights being such, as to cause the lines of the warp passing through said openings to have the desired angularity for shed opening.

19. In a loom, a plurality of heddle frames, a pair of members disposed one above the other, means for simultaneously moving said members up and down cyclically and in opposite directions between inner extreme positions and outer extreme positions, means connecting each of said heddle frames selectively to each of said members, to cause the connected heddle frame to move with the connected member in one direction from one extreme position towards the other extreme position, and means for selectively disconnecting each of said heddle frames from the member to which said heddle frame is connected, when said member reaches one of its extreme positions and for simultaneously connecting the heddle frame to the other member in extreme position, to cause said heddle frame to continue to move in said one direction until said heddle frame reaches said other extreme position.

20. In a loom, a plurality of heddle frames, each movable into any one of three shedding positions, a drive, a pair of substantially horizontal arm-like structures disposed one above the other, means operated from said v drive for translating said structures simultaneously and cyclically up and down in opposite directions, while maintaining said structfures substantially horizontal, transmissions to said heddle frames respectively, selective control means for cyclically connecting selected transmissions to one structure and then to the other cyclically at different phases in accordance with a predetermined weave pattern, to cause each of said heddle frames to move into any one of said positions for shedding in accordance with said weave pattern, and means for cyclically locking selected transmissions in any of the three positions of the corresponding heddle frames to lock selected heddle frames against movement, in accordance with said weave pattern, while the other heddle frames are moving.

2,1, In a loom, the combination as described in claim 20,

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 208,675 Derby Oct. 8, 1878 22 Firth Oct. 22, 1889 Sabbag May 11, 1920 Schlegel Apr. 19, 1938 Werner et a1 Apr. 6, 1954 Widmer Dec. 20, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain of 1909 Germany Dec. 15, 1952 

